Chapter [167]

Astaroth Mansion - Main Hall

In the main hall, Dimitri was seated in a large armchair, his expression a mixture of fury and despair. Beside him, servants tried to calm the situation, but he dismissed them with a brusque gesture.

When Serafall and Sirzechs entered the hall, Dimitri abruptly stood up, his eyes fixed on Diodora's floating body beside Serafall. His expression shifted from pain to intense rage.

"Diodora... my son..." murmured Dimitri, taking a few steps forward. "How did this happen?"

"Dimitri, Diodora lost control in Tokyo. He caused massive destruction, endangering countless human lives and exposing the supernatural world. Riser had no choice but to intervene," Serafall said, her voice firm and filled with compassion.

Dimitri clenched his fists, his fury evident. "So Riser killed my son? Instead of finding another solution?"

BAM!

Dimitri punched a nearby table, breaking it into pieces, his rage overflowing. "How could he do this? My son deserved a chance at redemption!"

"Dimitri, I understand your pain," said Serafall, trying to remain calm. "But the situation was critical. If Diodora continued, it could have triggered a conflict between mythologies, something we all want to avoid."

Dimitri breathed heavily, the anger clear in his eyes. "I don't care about the justification, Serafall. If someone had to punish Diodora, it should have been me. Riser was the current head of the Phenex family; he should not have done this."

"Leviathan-sama is how you should address me," said Serafall, her voice now colder and more authoritative.

Serafall's magical energy began to leak, creating intense pressure in the room. Everyone present, except Sirzechs, felt increasing discomfort. The atmosphere grew dense, and the tension was palpable.

Dimitri, realizing his mistake and Serafall's fury, took a step back, the anger in his eyes replaced by a more subdued demeanor. "Forgive me, Leviathan-sama," he said, bowing his head in a gesture of respect.

Sirzechs, sensing the intensity of the moment, placed a hand on Serafall's shoulder, trying to calm her. "Serafall, let's resolve this calmly. The situation is tense enough already."

Serafall took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment as she felt Sirzechs' hand on her shoulder. The magical pressure around her began to gradually decrease, easing the discomfort of those present.

Dimitri, realizing he had made a mistake in challenging Serafall, took a step back, the anger in his eyes replaced by a more calm demeanor. "Forgive me, Leviathan-sama," he said, bowing his head in a gesture of respect.

Serafall opened her eyes, her expression cold and authoritative. "Riser's actions were necessary given the moment," she declared, her voice firm echoing through the hall. "He acted to maintain the balance of the supernatural world. You may not like the circumstances, but you need to live with it."

She took a few steps forward, approaching Dimitri, her gaze piercing. "Don't dare think you are in the same position as I am. As a Maou, I have the responsibility to maintain order and safety. I won't tolerate anyone challenging the decisions we make to protect our world."

Dimitri, still feeling powerless in the face of the situation, nodded slowly, recognizing Serafall's authority. "I understand, Leviathan-sama. I will deal with this as best as I can."

Serafall gave Dimitri one last look before turning to Sirzechs. "Ensure everything is in order here, Sirzechs. I will take my leave now."

With that, Serafall traced a magic circle in the air, and a bright light enveloped her. In an instant, she disappeared, leaving Sirzechs and Dimitri alone in the main hall.

Dimitri watched Serafall's departure with a hard expression, clearly dissatisfied with the way she had spoken to him. He turned to Sirzechs, the contained fury still evident in his eyes.

"Sirzechs, is this how a Maou should act? Abusing her power to favor her relatives? Serafall clearly thinks she is superior, treating me with disdain and imposing her authority without consideration."

Sirzechs, one of the Maous of the underworld, maintained a calm and diplomatic posture, aware of the importance of his position and the need to avoid unnecessary conflicts. He knew that Dimitri, being part of one of the 72 pillar families of the underworld, required a careful approach.

"Dimitri, I understand your frustration," began Sirzechs, keeping his voice serene. "Serafall has a direct style and can sometimes seem authoritarian. But we need to remember that as Maou, our main responsibility is to maintain peace and order in the underworld."

Dimitri took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He knew that nothing would change Serafall's decision, and confronting her directly would only bring more problems to his family. With a more controlled expression, he nodded slowly.

"I understand, Lucifer-sama. Thank you for coming here," said Dimitri, his voice controlled. "I ask you to leave now. I need to deal with the loss of my son and take the necessary measures to ensure our family remains stable."

Sirzechs observed Dimitri for a moment, perceiving the determination in the man's eyes. He knew Dimitri was plotting something but decided not to press him at that moment. It was important to maintain calm and avoid further conflicts.

"Of course, Dimitri. If you need anything, don't hesitate to contact me," said Sirzechs, his voice gentle but firm. He then traced a magic circle on the floor and, in an instant, disappeared, leaving Dimitri alone in the main hall.

Dimitri looked around the empty room, the heavy silence reflecting the loss and pain he felt. However, his mind was already working on a plan. If the Maous wouldn't help, he knew whom to turn to.

"If the Maous won't bring justice, the old faction will," murmured Dimitri to himself, his voice filled with determination.

Kuoh Academy - Occult Research Club

Rias was in the occult research club, the usually tranquil environment now filled with tension and worry. She paced back and forth, her thoughts a whirlwind. Grayfia, always calm and controlled, sat in the room, watching Rias with a concerned expression.

"Grayfia, I don't know what to do," said Rias, her voice trembling. "Issei disappeared, and I can't find him. I've looked everywhere possible, and no one knows where he is."

Grayfia stood up from her chair and approached Rias, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Rias, I understand your concern. We've done everything we could to find Issei, but so far, we haven't had any success."

Rias stopped pacing and looked at Grayfia, her eyes full of despair. "Grayfia, he's the second member of my Peerage to disappear. First, it was Gasper, and now Issei. I... I feel like I'm failing them."

Grayfia sighed, her expression softening. "Rias, you're not failing them. You're doing everything you can. But now, we need to ensure your safety. I want you to come back with me to the Gremory mansion in the underworld."

Rias frowned, confused. "Return to the mansion? Why?"

Grayfia kept her voice firm but gentle. "Rias-sama, your safety is our priority. With Issei missing and the situation becoming increasingly unstable, we need to ensure you're in a safe place. In the underworld, we'll be better prepared to deal with any threat that may arise."

Rias hesitated for a moment but finally nodded. "Alright, Grayfia. Let's go to the mansion. But keep looking for Issei. We can't give up on him."

Grayfia made a slight bow. "Of course, Rias. I'll do everything in my power to find him."

Gremory Mansion - Living Room

Sirzechs was seated in an armchair in the living room, with Zeoticus and Venelana beside him. The normally welcoming environment was charged with tension. Sirzechs looked at his parents with a serious expression as they digested the information about the recent events.

"So, Riser killed Diodora," Zeoticus began, the irritation evident in his voice. "That means the marriage contract is over. All the negotiations, all the plans... it was all for nothing."

Venelana, sitting beside him, was visibly shaken. "And Svetlana... my longtime friend. I can't believe she's gone, and in such a tragic way." She sighed, her hands trembling as she held a cup of tea, seeking some comfort in the warmth of the liquid.

Sirzechs nodded, trying to remain calm. "I know, mother. The situation is severe and tragic. Riser acted to prevent further destruction, but the impact was devastating. Now, we have to deal with the political and emotional repercussions."

Zeoticus frowned, clearly dissatisfied. "I never trusted Riser. He always acted impulsively and arrogantly. Now, his decision has put us in a difficult position. We need to ensure our family remains strong and stable."

Sirzechs, who never liked Riser, couldn't help but internally agree with his father, but he knew it was time to focus on solutions. "We need to deal with the consequences of Diodora's death and the destruction he caused in Tokyo. Additionally, we need to ensure our family's safety."

Gremory Mansion - Main Entrance

A magic circle appeared on

the floor of the main entrance of the Gremory mansion, and Rias and Grayfia emerged from it, enveloped in a soft light. Rias looked around, feeling a mix of relief and sadness at being back at the mansion.

Grayfia stayed by Rias's side, her expression firm and protective. "Rias, I will inform them of your arrival."

Rias nodded, trying to maintain her composure. "Thank you, Grayfia."

Grayfia led Rias to the living room, where Sirzechs, Zeoticus, and Venelana were discussing the recent events. Seeing Rias enter, Venelana quickly stood up, meeting her daughter with open arms.

"Rias, dear, it's so good to have you here," said Venelana, hugging her tightly. "We were so worried about you."

Rias returned the hug, feeling the warmth and comfort of her mother. "Mother, I... I needed to come. Issei is missing, and I don't know what else to do."

Venelana released the hug, holding Rias's hands with a concerned look. "I know, dear. We're all here to help you. But first, I need to tell you something important."

Sirzechs stood up from his armchair, approaching Rias. "Rias, I have news that will affect all of us. The marriage contract with Diodora has been canceled."

Rias frowned, surprised. "Canceled? But how...?"

Zeoticus, still visibly irritated, intervened. "Diodora is dead, Rias. Riser killed him."

Rias's eyes widened, processing the information. "Diodora... dead? I... I didn't know. Does that mean... I'm free from the marriage?"

Sirzechs nodded, his expression serious but understanding. "Yes, Rias. You are free from that contract."

Rias felt a wave of relief.

'I need to thank Riser for this, somehow.'

Zeoticus, noticing Rias's happiness about the canceled marriage, went up to his office with a heavy expression, still reflecting on the political and personal implications of the situation.

Rias, now free from the burden of the arranged marriage, sat on the sofa next to her mother. The relief was visible on her face, but the worry about Issei's disappearance still haunted her. She looked at Sirzechs, seeking answers.

"Sirzechs, thank you for telling me about Diodora. I... I feel immense relief being free from that contract. But now, we need to talk about Issei. He disappeared, and I'm very worried."

Sirzechs nodded, understanding the urgency in his sister's voice. "Rias, I understand your concern for Issei. I'll do everything I can to help find him, but know that we have many things we need to deal with right now."

"I understand, Sirzechs. I know you're doing your best. It's just that... Issei is such an important part of my Peerage. I feel responsible for him," said Rias, her voice trembling.

Venelana squeezed Rias's hand, offering comfort.

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